Locals who had not yet filled their swan hunting permit are feeling frustrated after the Division of Wildlife Resources announced that Utah’s swan hunting season has closed early for the 3rd year in a row. According to the announcement, the federal quota of 20 trumpeter swans was met on Friday, November 26th, prompting the prohibition of killing any swan in Utah starting November 27th. The swan hunting season would have run until December 12th but there is no wiggle room once that federal quota is reached. “This is the third year in a row that we have seen a higher number of trumpeter swans harvested because there were more migrating through Utah than in previous years,” shares DWR Migratory Game Bird Program Coordinator Blair Stringham. “We realize the early closure of this year’s hunting season means that some permit holders may not harvest a swan, but we appreciate their understanding and support of our efforts to protect the trumpeter swan population.” Swan hunting permits are only available through a hunt drawing and 2,750 permits were offered this year. While hunters with a permit can legally take one trumpeter or tundra swan, they are discouraged from harvesting trumpeter swans. To try and prevent early closure in the future, the DWR is proposing a required annual orientation course that will emphasize swan identification to avoid harvesting a trumpeter when a tundra swan was intended.
